Insurers add to garden security calls

Posted : 19-05-2005

An increasing number of insurers are advising Britons to secure their gardens through their home insurance policies.

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) research estimates that Britons spend a combined £4.2 billion a year on their gardens. However the public is failing to protect their expensive ornaments and garden furniture.

Post Office Home Insurance recently warned that 83 per cent of garden owners are do not know whether their garden is protected by their home insurance.

Sainsbury's Bank Home Insurance has added to calls for homeowners to secure and protect their gardens, forecasting that over the next year up to 654,000 properties could have £138 million worth of belongings stolen from their gardens.

Robert O'May, home insurance manager at Sainsbury's Bank, urged Britons to ensure their gardens are protected by their home insurance and said: "People are not only taking greater pride in their gardens, they also realise the value they can add to their homes. This means that many people are spending thousands of pounds on improving their gardens.

"As improved security can make it more difficult to break into homes, burglars are turning their attention to easier pickings in gardens."

According to research from Sainsbury's Bank, an estimated 1.25 million homes will spend over £1,000 on their gardens between April and September 2005.

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